The world seems as if it’s growing smaller by the day. Certainly, the ability of people to travel from one part of the globe to another and in just a few hours is making travel more common for more people than ever before. Of course, a passport is generally needed to go from one country to another and that means what to know about making a passport application can be important for most.
The first thing to understand is that in the United States, the State Department is the issuing authority for all US passports. And while it might seem daunting at first glance to obtain a passport, it actually isn’t. In general, people have a couple of different ways of doing so; either on their own through passport centers run by the government or by hiring a passport expediting service.
For those who are 16 years of age or older, and who are obtaining a passport for the first time, there are specific steps that must be taken in order to receive a passport after application. In general, all people who are requesting a passport for the first time must apply in person at a passport issuance agency office or through US post offices set up to accept passports.
Also, government Form DS-11 – Application for a US Passport – must be submitted, along with additional documentation. Never sign the form before arriving at the acceptance facility or passport agency as a passport worker must witness the signing. As far as documentation goes, proof of citizenship and identity, along with a Social Security number, will be required.
When it comes to proof of citizenship, homeland security regulations are very strict as to just what evidence is acceptable. Generally, an official birth certificate with a raised seal, a naturalization certificate or a certificate of citizenship is required. There are exceptions if these documents are unavailable and secondary evidence such as a baptismal certificate is all that can be supplied.
Identification documentation can take many different forms, by the way. Examples of such documents when it comes to proving identity include a valid driver’s license, military identification card or a government-issued identification card from a state, city or municipality or other official entity. Secondary identification such as a Social Security card and credit card may also be accepted.
Currently, fees for the issuance of an adult passport (i.e., for those 16 years of age and older) can run from $20 to $95 for the passport itself, along with a $25 execution fee. Methods for payment are extremely varied, depending on whether application is made in person or through the mails and such. These can include credit and debit cards as well as money orders, exact cash and even personal checks.
It might seem a bit involved at first glance, when it comes to making passport application but it actually isn’t that difficult overall. It’s always recommended that a person who needs a passport make the State Department passport section website the first stop on the journey. For those who find it daunting still, it might be best to work with an express passport service, many of which are found online.
Comments on this entry are closed.